Electrical receptacle



1,548,577 R B BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL REGE-PTAGLE Filed March .1920 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fieoentar j? i i M fl'ttorneya,

Aug. 4, 192-5.

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,577

R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE Filed March 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. 4, 1925 UNITED STATES OFFHCE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANUFACTURING GOIvIIlPAZbTY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE.

Application filed. March 10, 1920. Serial No. 364,785.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Receptacles, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to electrical receptacles and it has particularrelation to re ceptacles comprising removably vconnected base and casingparts.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an electrical receptacleembodying my invention, with portions thereof broken away for th sake ofclearness;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; 1

F ig. 4 is a plan View of the electrical receptacle;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the upper portion of the receptacle,the closure and maintaining member which cooperates with this portion ofthe receptacle, being removed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the closure and maintaining element;and,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the insulating element which is normallyassociated with the portions shown inthe Figs. 5 and 6.

In receptacles of the character hereinafter described it-is essentialthat the base memher, to which is attached the lamp socket proper, maybe easily and quickly detached from the outer casing which serves as aprotection therefor, the latter usually being of suchcharacter that aglobe may be secured thereto. In the past, the disassembling of the twoportions as just indicated, has been a feature more or less diflicultfofattainment without the use of various tools for separating the variousportions of the receptacle. It is an object of my invention, therefore,to provide a receptacle in which a base member is surrounded, andprotected, by a metallic casing, and in which the casing and base membermay be readily disassembled without the use of tools and otherimplements.

To this end I so arrange, and so form the base member and its associatedcasing that the two may be assembled and firmly secured together throughthe medium of certain novel openings and tongues registering therewith.

A further object of my invention is to provide a casing of the characterabove designated, in which one element only there of, need be removed inorder to render accessible the binding terminals.

Finally another object of my invention is to provide a simple and easilyremovable globe-supporting means, which is substantially integral withthe above mentioned casing, and which supports the globe without the.interpositioning of screws or other fastening means. 7

As will hereinafter appear I attain the above objects by the provisionof novel looking members which are associated with the casing and basemember, and moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art,that said objects are accomplished with the provision of the minimumnumber of parts, and moreover, that the locking of the casing and basemember is positive and accomplished with a minimum movement of theparts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an insulating base 10of porcelain, or other suitable insulating material, is of substantiallycylindrical form, and is enclosed by a metallic casing 11, which has adownwardly extending portion forming a husk 12, the latter being flaredat its lower end and provided with an equit'ant portion 1%- A globe 13is shown as held in position by a member 14, having a portion 14?, whichis grasped by the equitant portion 12 01 the husk 12, and a furthersupporting member 15, which is secured to the member lt, preferably bythreaded engagement, as shown.- It will be observed that by the lastdescribed combination, I provide an extremely simple and easilyassembled globesupporting structure which is substantially integral withthe receptacle.

In order to lock the base 10 from rotating with respect to the casing11, lugs 16 are formed integral with the casing 11 and are adapted toengage with bayonet joints, which comprise longitudinal recesses 17formed on the outer surface of the base 10,

vented.

extending from the inner end thereof and having iornied integraltherewith transversely extending recesses 18. The arrangement is suchthat upon theinsertion Oran. base,'the lugs 16 engage the .longitu'dinalrecesses 17 and serve to hold the base against relative rotation withrespect to the casing. lVhen the lugs 16 reach the end of thelongitudinal recesses 17, they are in position to engage the transverserecesses 18, this engagement being efiected by rotation 01" the base 10,whereupon the latter and the casing 11 are locked and relativelongitudinal movement the'rebetween is pr Secured to the outer side ofbase 10 are conventional shell and center contacts 19 and 20respectively, the former being threaded and enclosed in a suitableinsulating sleeve or housing 21. Also secured to the base 10 are a pullswitch mechanism 22, and wiring terminals 23 and 24 forthe reception oiiced wires. The switch 22 is operated by a pull cord or chain25, whichpasses between the base 10 and casing 11, and through a -groove 26formed in the former. a 7

To prevent contact of the feed wires with the casing, the upper portionof the latter is lined with a suitable lining 27 of insula: tion,saidlining being formed with a 'cen tral opening 28, for the passage of thefeed wires. 7

-Disposed in the casing 10 and directly above the opening 28inthe-lining 27, is

an internally threaded bushing 29, adapted for connection with a pipe orconduit to afford passage for the feed wires. This bushing 29 has amulti-sided flanged por tion 30 formed thereomand is grooved to receivea washer 3 1, the latter'serving to lock the bushing 29 against relativelongitudinal movement by positioning of the up per peripheral edgethereof against the inner surface of the upper portion of the casingllasshown at 31 in Fig. 1. A flanged portion 32 is formed integral withthe casing, and is clamped between the washer 31 and the bushing 29. Thecasing 10; thereby snugly embraces the bushing, which is positivelylocked against relative rotation with respect to said casing.

As before indicated, it is desirous that the binding terminals be easilyaccessible whereby the feed wiresmay be replaced in case they becomeloosened or broken. With thisfin mind reference may be had to Fig.

5 wherein the insulating base 10 is shown as provided with recesses at33 and 34, in which the terminals "23 and 24 respectively, arepositioned, while the casing 11 is correspondingly' recessed at 35 and36.

It is not desired that jthe'binding terminals be exposed as shown inFig. 5, so a sleeve 37 is provided, which is telescopically mounted onsaid casing 11. Formed nitegral with said sleeve 37, and extendingvertically downwardly therewithin, is a finger 38 which has shoulderportions 39 "formed thereon. The lower edge of said sleeve is flanged at40 to support an annular insulating lining 41.

Should it be desired to replace a loosened or broken feed wire at thebinding terminals, it is only necessary to remove the sleeve 37 and thelining 41, said lining being removed with said sleeve. This action willexpose the parts as shown in Fig. 5.

When replacing the sleeeve 37, the finger 38 will therefore, afterentering the apex--- tures 42 and 43, engage one of said longitudinalrecesses 17 to positively hold the lugs 16 in the transverse recesses18, and hold the base and casing in locked relation. When the finger 38is in en agement with the longitudinal recess 17, tie flange portion 40of the sleeve 37 will rest upon a shoulder 44 formed between the casing11 and husk 12 formed integral therewith. The shoulder 39 on the finger38 willalso serve as a support for said sleeve on the casing 11. i p iIt is evident from the construction as outlined above, that the opcratorhas quick and easy access to the binding terminals, and when the sleeve37 is in position it will serve both to cover the openings '24 to thebinding terminals and positively hold the base and casing parts inlooked relation;

l Vhile I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention,it is apparent that many modifications therein may occur to thoseskilled in the art, and I desire therefore, that my invention be limitedonly by the showing of the prior art or by the scope of the appendedclaims. Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Let ters Patent is: j

1. An electrical receptacle comprising a base having binding terminalsmounted thereon and provided with looking slots, and easing providedwith means cooperating with said slots associated with said base andhaving openings therein afiording access to said binding terminals, anda sleeve for closingsaid openings, said sleeve having 'means formedintegral therewith for positively holding said base and casing. inlocked relation. l

2. An electrical receptacle comprising a base having binding terminals-mounted thereon and provided with locking slots, and easing provided"with means cooperating with said slots associated with said base andhaving openings therein affording access to said binding terminals, anda sleeve telescopically received by said casing having a finger formedintegral therewith, said sleeve serving to close said openings and saidfinger positively locking the base and casing'in locked relation.

3. An electrical receptacle comprising a base having binding terminalsmounted thereon and provided with looking slots, and casing providedwith means cooperating with said slots associated with said base andhaving openings therein affording access to said binding terminals, asleeve for closing said openings and having a finger formed integraltherewith for positively locking said base and casing, and an insulatinglining carried by the sleeve and movable therewith.

4:. An electrical receptacle comprising a base having binding terminalsmounted thereon and provided with looking slots, and casing providedwith means cooperating with said slots associated with said base andhaving openings therein affording access to said binding terminals, asleeve for closing said openings having a finger thereupon, said casinghaving an opening adapted to receive said finger and said base memberhaving a recess registering with said last named opening whereby saidfinger operates to positively lock said base and easing when said sleevecloses said binding terminal openings.

5. An electrical receptacle comprising a base having binding terminalsmounted thereon and provided with looking slots, a casing havingopenings therein affording access to said binding terminals, andprovided with means for co-operating with said slots and having anadditional opening adapted to register with the one of said lockingjoints in said base, and means comprising a telescopically receivedsleeve for closing said terminal openings and a finger adapted to passthrough said last named casing open- .ing and to engage said one of saidlocking joints to positively lock the base and casing.

6. An electrical receptacle construction comprising an insulating basehaving binding terminals and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, acasing having openings therein aifording access to said terminals, meansfor detachably securing said base and the parts supported thereby insaid casing, and means for preventing detachment of said base and partssupported thereby, and for closingthe openings in said casing,comprising a sleeve surrounding said casing, and provided with a lockingfinger, for holding said base against rotation, said casing beingprovided with an annular shoulder, for supporting said sleeve.

7 An electrical receptacle construction comprising an insulating base,wiring terminals and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a casinghaving openings therein affording access to said terminals, and meanswhereby said base and parts supported thereby may be detachably securedin said position by a movement including a movement of rotation, andmeans for closing the openings in said casing, and preventing rotationof said insulating base, comprising a sleeve surrounding said casing,said casing being provided with two shoulder portions, one engaging thelower portion of the sleeve, and one shoulder portion having an openingtherein, and a member carried by said sleeve extending through said lastopening for preventing rotation of said insulating base and the partssupported thereby.

8. An electrical receptacle construction comprising a sub-assemblyincluding (1) an insulating base; (2) a threaded shell contact mounted011 said base; and (8) a wiring terminal mounted on said insulatingbase; a casing enclosing said sub-assembly, and having an openingtherein affording access to said wiring terminal, said sub-assemblybeing provided with a bayonet joint connection for holding it inposition in said casing; and a sleeve surrounding said casing forclosing said opening, said sleeve being provided with means forpreventing disconnection of said bayonet joint.

9. An electrical receptacle construction comprising a sub-assemblyincluding (1) an insulating base; (2) a threaded shell con tact mountedon said base; and (3) a wiring terminal mounted on said insulating base;a casing enclosing said sub-assembly; said sub-assembly being providedwith means whereby it may be detachably secured in position in saidcasing by movement including a movement of rotation, and a sleeve forsurrounding said casing, and closing said opening, said sleeve beingprovided with means to hold said sub-assembly against rotation toprevent it from becoming disconnected.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,548,577, grantedAugust l, 1925, upon the application of Reuben B. Benjamin, of Chicago,Illinois, for an improvement in Electrical Receptacles, an error appearsin the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3,lines 4-3 and 49, claim 5, for the Word joints read slots; and that thesaid Letters Patentshould he read Withthis correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of September, A. I). 1925.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner 0 7 Patents.

